KR20080056337A - Barcode device with wired and wireless interface - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a bar code device for providing a wired and wireless interface. The barcode device according to the present invention includes a barcode imager for optically recognizing and reading a barcode, a first memory for storing barcode data corresponding to the barcode recognized by the barcode imager, and a wire connection with a host. A Bluetooth module for transmitting the barcode data to the host in a Bluetooth communication manner, a serial communication module for transmitting the barcode data to the host in a serial communication manner through the connector, and the barcode imager. And a CPU for controlling operations of the memory, the Bluetooth module, and the serial communication module, and for transmitting the barcode data to the host through the connector in a USB manner.

Description

Barcode device for providing wired and wireless interfaces {Barcode device for supplying wire and wireless interface}

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the drawings cited in the detailed description of the invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

1 is a block diagram of a barcode device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a connector of the barcode device shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a diagram illustrating a pin map of a connector.

The present invention relates to a barcode device, and more particularly, to a barcode device that provides both a wired interface function and a wireless interface function.

In general, a code that displays a predetermined object in English letters, numbers, or special symbols so that it can be recognized. However, remembering the code and typing it into the computer is very cumbersome and difficult. In particular, it is almost impossible to treat all kinds of items such as household goods as separate codes, and even if they are realized, there is a problem that practicality is greatly reduced.

In order to solve this problem, a bar code is a bar code that combines a plurality of bars having various thicknesses instead of a general code, and a device that optically reads (reads) and inputs it to a computer device. Or barcode reader.

In other words, a bar code device, also called a bar code reader or a bar code scanner, irradiates a bar code printed on a region of a recognition object with light such as an electron beam to read an electronic signal generated according to the intensity of reflected light. It is a series of input devices.

Such a barcode device uses an optical principle that converts the above-described electronic signal into an internal code of a computer by a logic circuit of a controller.

Barcodes are widely used in the production and sales management of commodities due to the accurate and easy to use data input. Especially, the barcodes are widely used in the distribution field. Accordingly, in recent years, the frequency of use of the bar code device is greatly increased, so that the use of the bar code device can be easily encountered in a small shop as well as a large discount mart.

As such, the range in which the bar code can be utilized is quite wide, and accordingly, the environment or form in which the bar code device is used also varies. Nevertheless, the conventional bar code device is mainly used in the form of a wired connection to a computer.

Accordingly, there is a need for a barcode device that can be conveniently used in various environments (that is, indoors or outdoors) and can transmit scanned barcode data to a host through various communication methods.

Accordingly, a technical problem of the present invention is to provide a bar code device that provides a wired interface function and a wireless interface function, and also provides two or more wired interface functions through one connector.

Bar code device according to the present invention for achieving the above technical problem is a barcode imager (barcode imager) for optically recognizing and reading a barcode; A first memory for storing barcode data corresponding to a barcode recognized by the barcode imager; A connector for wired connection with a host; A Bluetooth module for transmitting the barcode data to the host through a Bluetooth communication method; A serial communication module for transmitting the barcode data to the host through the connector in a serial communication manner; And a CPU for controlling operations of the barcode imager, the first memory, the Bluetooth module, and the serial communication module, and transmitting the barcode data to the host through the connector in a USB manner.

The connector is preferably a 24-pin connector.

The serial communication method is an RS232 communication method, and a plurality of predetermined pins of the 24-pins may be allocated for the serial communication, and a plurality of predetermined pins of the 24-pins are allocated for the USB communication. Can be.

The barcode device may further include a built-in antenna for the Bluetooth communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to fully understand the present invention, operational advantages of the present invention, and objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings. You must do it. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a block diagram of a barcode device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the barcode device 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 110, a barcode imager 120, an LED module 130, a Bluetooth module 140, and a serial communication module RS232, 150. ), A connector 160, a power unit 170, a speaker module 190, and first and second memories 180 and 185.

The CPU 110 controls the operation of the barcode device 100 by controlling various modules and circuits inside the barcode device 100 as a whole. CPU 110 may also communicate with the host via USB connector 160 via a USB communication scheme. This will be described later in detail.

The barcode imager 120 is a barcode reading module that optically reads and reads barcodes. The barcode imager 120 reads a barcode of a recognition target through a viewing window (not shown) provided on one surface of the barcode device 100.

The barcode imager 120 may be of a CMOS type or a LASER type. The barcode imager 120 may decode the read barcode to provide a decoded barcode value (called decoded barcode data) to the CPU 110, and may transmit undecoded data (called non-decoded barcode data) to the CPU 110. 110 may be provided. In the latter case, that is, when the barcode imager 120 provides the non-decoded barcode data to the CPU 110, the CPU 110 decodes the non-decoded barcode data to obtain the decoded barcode value (decoded barcode data). The decoding barcode data may be stored in a memory or transmitted to a host (not shown) by wire or wireless communication.

The host is a device capable of communicating with a barcode device in a wired or wireless communication manner, and may be, for example, a computer or a mobile terminal. A mobile terminal is a terminal that can be used freely while moving anywhere, and refers to a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA) called a personal portable terminal.

The LED module 130 is a display module that can display the mode or state of the barcode device 100 or information related to the barcode read (for example, a product name or price of a product on which the barcode is printed). When the decoded barcode data is transmitted to the host, the information related to the barcode may transmit information corresponding to the barcode data decoded by the host to the barcode device 100. Then, the barcode device 100 may display the received barcode-related information through the LED module 130 or the LCD module (not shown).

The Bluetooth module 140 is a module that supports wireless communication according to the Bluetooth standard. Bluetooth is a wireless communication standard that enables real-time communication in two directions by wirelessly connecting a computer, a mobile terminal, and a home appliance that is located at a short distance.

Some existing bar code readers support wireless LAN communication. However, the barcode device according to the present invention supports the Bluetooth method, which is widely used as a communication method between a computer, a mobile terminal, and a peripheral device, thereby facilitating communication with a host equipped with Bluetooth.

The communication method between the CPU 110 and the Bluetooth module 140 may be a UART method. The Bluetooth module 140 may transmit barcode information received from the CPU 110 to an external host (eg, a computer or a mobile terminal). To this end, it is preferable to have a built-in antenna (not shown) in the Bluetooth module 140 or inside the barcode device 100.

The serial communication modules RS232 and 150 are modules that support serial communication of RS232 or RS232C. RS232 is a serial communication standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA).

The communication method between the CPU 110 and the serial communication module 150 may be a UART method. The serial communication module 150 may transmit barcode data received from the CPU 110 to a host (eg, a computer, a mobile terminal, etc.) connected with the connector 160 through the connector 160.

The connector 160 is a device for connecting the barcode device 100 to an external host (not shown) by wire. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 160 may be a 24-pin connector.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a connector of the barcode device shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a diagram illustrating a pin map of a connector.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 160 will be described in more detail as follows. Connector 160 is preferably a connector that can be connected to the mobile phone charging connector (24pin).

Pins 13, 14, 23, and 24 of the 24 pins of the connector 160 may be assigned as pins for serial communication (RS232). For example, pins 13, 14, 23, and 24 can be assigned to the signal lines "EXT_RXD", "EXT_TXD", "EXT_RTS", and "EXT_CTS", where "EXT_TXD" indicates that the serial communication device is an external device. Signal line for sending serial communication data when sending information “EXT_RXD” is a signal line for receiving serial communication data from an external device. "EXT_RTS" is a signal line indicating that the host is ready to receive data from the barcode device 100. "EXT_CTS" is a signal line indicating that the barcode device 100 is ready to receive data from the host.

Pins 10, 15, and 16 of the 24 pins of the connector 160 may be assigned as pins for USB communication. For example, pins 10, 15, and 16 may be assigned to the "V-", "V +" and "VBUS" signal lines, respectively.

Pins 2, 3, 9, 17, and 18 of the 24 pins of connector 160 may be assigned for programming and pins 19 and 24 for ground. In the connector pin map, 'NC' means an unused pin, that is, an unused pin.

3 is an example of a connector pin map, the pin map of the connector may be set differently from FIG. 3 according to an embodiment.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the power supply unit 170 receives an internal battery (not shown) or power supplied from the outside, generates an internal voltage, and provides the internal voltage to various internal modules and circuits.

The first memory 180 is a memory for storing an OS program, a driving program, data, and the like, and is preferably a memory in which stored data is not erased even when the power is turned off. The first memory 180 may be implemented as a NAND flash memory. The second memory 185 is a memory for temporarily storing a program or data necessary for the operation of the barcode device 100 and may be implemented as an SDRAM.

The speaker module (buzzer 190) is a module that provides a notification or alarm function through sound, and emits a predetermined sound according to the operation, mode, and state of the barcode device. For example, a reading operation (also called a scanning operation) in which a barcode is read and read by the barcode imager 120 may be generated as a predetermined tone. Thus, when a user reads a barcode by operating a switch or a button (not shown) provided in the barcode apparatus 100, a signal sound corresponding thereto is generated through the speaker module 190.

An example of the operation of the barcode device 100 is described below.

The barcode imager 120 transmits the scanned barcode data (eg, non-decoded barcode data) to the CPU 110, and the CPU 110 decodes the non-decoded barcode data. The decoded barcode data may be stored and transmitted in four ways as follows.

 First, the decoded bar code data may be directly transmitted to the host through a Bluetooth method, which is an air interface.

Second, the decoded bar code data may be directly transmitted to the host by serial communication (RS232), which is a wired interface.

Third, the decoded bar code data may be directly transmitted to the host through a USB communication (usb client, for example, USB 1.1 client) method, which is a wired interface.

Fourth, the decoded bar code data may be stored in the first memory 180 and then transmitted to the host through the above-described wired interface or wireless interface.

Therefore, when the user wants to connect the barcode device 100 to a computer or other terminal indoors, the user may transmit the barcode data to the host by USB or serial communication method (baud-rate: 921,600bps).

Users can save up to several megabytes (MB) of scanned barcode data in the internal memory while working outdoors, and then transfer all the stored data at once by wired connection to the host.

In addition, unlike a wired interface, a user can wirelessly transmit data to a Bluetooth-equipped host using Bluetooth without directly connecting to the host (via a wire). Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the barcode scan operation can be performed freely while eliminating inconvenience caused by the wire. In addition, by enabling the use of both wired and wireless interfaces, there is an advantage that you can use the desired method according to the working environment.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, both a wired and a wireless interface can be used, and there is an advantage that a desired method can be used according to a user's working environment. In addition, since both USB communication and serial communication are supported using one connector, user selectivity and convenience of communication with other devices are increased.

Claims (5)

A barcode imager for optically recognizing and reading barcodes; A first memory for storing barcode data corresponding to a barcode recognized by the barcode imager; A connector for wired connection with a host; A Bluetooth module for transmitting the barcode data to the host through a Bluetooth communication method; A serial communication module for transmitting the barcode data to the host through the connector in a serial communication manner; And And a CPU for controlling operations of the barcode imager, the first memory, the Bluetooth module, and the serial communication module, and transmitting the barcode data to the host through the connector in a USB manner. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector Bar code device, characterized in that the 24-pin connector. The method of claim 2, The serial communication method is an RS232 communication method, And a predetermined plurality of pins of the 24-pins are allocated for the serial communication. The method of claim 2, And a predetermined plurality of pins of the 24-pins are allocated for the USB communication. The method of claim 1, wherein the barcode device is Bar code device further comprises a built-in antenna for the Bluetooth communication.

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